Former IRA members met the Smithwick Tribunal

IT has been confirmed that three former members of the Irish Republican Army had a face-to-face meeting with lawyers acting for the Smithwick Tribunal investigating the IRA assassination of two high-ranking RUC officers in 1989. The tribunal has been told the former IRA members gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from... Free article

Paul Maskey elected as new Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast

PAUL MASKEY celebrated his 44th birthday on Thursday 9th June by being elected the new Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast and comfortably winning the seat held by Gerry Adams until his election to the Dáil in February.
Paul’s election win continues the momentum of Sinn Féin successes as a growing political force throughout the... Free article

THE SDLP campaign focused on Sinn Féin not taking its seats in Westminster.
SDLP candidate and Environment Minister Alex Attwood’s flyer featured the slogan “West Belfast needs a strong leader . . . not an empty seat.”
The voters chose a strong leader — Paul Maskey.
Paul said later:
“The people of West Belfast aren’t stupid. They’re astute individuals and have sent a clear message... Free article

ON May 21st 1981, Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Charles Haughey called a general election, the first since he took over as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach in 1979. The election was overshadowed by the H-Block crisis.
On the very day the general election was called, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara died after 61 days on hunger strike.
Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes had died on May... Free article

BOOK REVIEW
BY MARK MOLONEY

‘PAWNS IN THE GAME’,
BY BARRY FLYNN
(COLLINS PRESS €13/£12)

THIS YEAR being the 30th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike, it’s no surprise that some writers outside republicanism are looking at this historic period and one of the more interesting publications is without doubt Barry Flynn’s Pawns in the Game.
And don’t be put off by the title. I had... Free article

BY JUNE 1981, four prisoners — Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh and Patsy O’Hara — had died on hunger strike and four more — Joe McDonnell, Kieran Doherty, Kevin Lynch and Martin Hurson — had joined the fast.
Outside the jails, IRA Volunteers George McBrearty and Charles ‘Pop’ Maguire had been killed in action in an ambush by British forces in Derry City in the last... Free article

THE British Government is reported to have bowed to the demands of the Finucane family and is set to announce a full inquiry into the 1989 killing of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane.
The reports indicate that the British Government will reveal plans for an extensive public inquiry into the Finucane killing, a move British governments have previously and strongly resisted.Free article

BY PEADAR WHELAN

I WAS STANDING on the Garvaghy Road with Rosemary Nelson in July 1997 as the RUC and the British Army invaded the area, beat residents off the road and forced a triumphalist Orange parade through the area.
As a reporter working with An Phoblacht I saw at first-hand the hostility that the crown forces displayed toward Rosemary Nelson.
I knew of the numerous... Free article

The inescapable conclusion – it was collusion

BY GERRY ADAMS

ROSEMARY NELSON was a human rights lawyer. She stood up for what she believed in and she sought to use the law– even one as corrupted as that of the North during the years of conflict - as a means of defending citizens from abuse and discrimination and as a way of achieving justice.
Rosemary was killed in a car-bomb... Free article

OVER 60 activists attended Sinn Féin’s annual Irish-language conference in the Teachers’ Club in Dublin on 21st May.
The first half of the day saw lively debate about the party’s proposed Irish-language strategy document under the able chairmanship of Gearóid Ó hEaghra. The document is composed of motions passed at ardfheiseanna in recent years with regard to the Irish language in... Free article